Thanks so much for explaining that about clear coat! Now I have some knowledge to work from.

 

Glad I could help.

 

Great article! definitely very informative!

 

Yo Moe i gotta a question for ya, you see i have over 6 months on detailing experience and my question is: how do you get rid of the "darK" haze-like appearances on the car? you know the ones you see after you have done waxing.
Thanks in advance!

 

The haze depends on what product you're using and the external conditions. For example, if you're waxing with a carnauba wax, and it's really warm outside, once you wipe the wax off, you may see slight hazing. This can be due to moisture in the air, the wax not curing properly before you wiped it off, or simply using too much product. If the towels aren't washed properly, for example using fabric softener or bleach, you may get this hazing effect as well. Many different variables are involved here. Does this steer you in the right direction?

 

Moe thanks for all the great info! Way back in the late 80/90s dupont made a product called 3m imperial hand glaze, this was a pre wax paint product that did a great job of cleaning up the surface befor wax application. I used it on my turbo with great results. Has clay replaced this product? Have you ever tried this product?
Best regards,
GG300

 

I'm familiar with hand glaze, however, clay's function is much different. Clay is basically an abrasive-type product that is the consistency of silly putty, designed to remove embedded contaminants in the paint leaving a smooth surface to polish and wax. The glaze you speak of is a product designed to be applied after polishing to somewhat fill in the imperfections such as scratches, swirls, micromarring, etc.

 

This forum carries so much great information!

 

Moe, I have to agree with you on this one. Even if I wax, or polish without claying my surface, I can still feel the bumps and contamination as I run my hands down. Once I run my clay back and forward, I can feel a little resistance from it. It feels like tiny sands, but when I'm finished claying, it's really smooth without bumpy contamination. IMO, It is a must first step before waxing or polishing a car.

 

This is a Novel of information, Thanks. I have ony read the first page but this is great.

 

Just spent lunch flipping through this thread. Moe, you're def dedicated to your craft.

 

Thanks for taking the time to check out this thread. We're here to help anytime.

 

Glad to hear your found the info useful. I tried to make it simple and to the point.

 

Thanks for the great article Moe. I have a few questions about my '06 Porsche C2S. It's black, still fairly shiny with some swirls in the clear. I'm the second owner; I've had it for about 6 months. It is not my daily driver, spends most of the time in the garage. What would you recommmend to get the swirls out of the clear and get a deep glossy finish?

I've purchased the P21S deluxe kit that has the paint cleaner and "100%" carnauba wax. I've used them on my 04' TSX and my 00' Civic (daily driver) after claying, but not on the C2S. They both have a nice shine but it didn't do much for the swirls. Would you recommend this system for the C2S or should I get something like the Flex and a proper polish before the waxing? I'm hesitant to use a power tool on the C2S as I've never used a power tool on a car's paint. I'm willing to try it out first on the Civic (which is also black) before I try anything on the C2S. BTW, I'm definitely a DIY'er and always wanting to learn new things.

Also, I really like the P21S shampoo. What type of mitt or sponge do you use to wash cars? And what's the best thing to use to dry a car after it's washed? I am currently using a sheepskin mitt to wash and thick nap micro-fiber towels to dry.

 

I'm glad to hear this thread has helped you out.

I think your best bet is to go with a flex and the proper pads and polishes. You shouldn't be afraid of this power tool. It's a professional tool that can be used as a daily work horse for a pro or it can be used as an excellent upgrade to any DIY detailer's tool chest. You can polish and wax with the flex, work on medium to heavy swirls and correct them with confidence, and it's as safe as any DA polisher out there.

Without seeing your car for sure, I couldn't tell you 100% the flex is right for you. We do sell quite a bit of them each month so I know many DIYers and pros find it useful and a worthy investment.

This is the kit I'd recommend if you were going to get the right combination to tackle almost 90+% of curve ***** thrown your way:

http://www.glisteningperfectionstore...sh-Kits/Detail

As for your wash routine, it sounds like you're using what we'd recommend. Natural Sheepskin Mitt and MF drying cloths. Here's a link to our mitt and towels if you're interested:

http://www.glisteningperfectionstore...skin%2C/Detail

http://www.glisteningperfectionstore...els/Categories

Let me know if this steers you in the right direction and if you have more questions.